Symbolism In A Goodman Is Hard To Find
When reading A Good Man Is Hard to Find, by Flannery O'Connor most recreational readers believe the short story to be gothic and even grotesque. However, when the story is read from the view point of O'Connor it takes on a different tone and meaning all together. Much of what at first glace seems to be terrible and horrific events are actually lessons which O'Connor hoped to convey to the reader. O'Connor uses several key characters and settings in the story to express her beliefs to the reader. In the story O'Connor uses the plantation house to symbolize the threat of temptation in ones daily life. The plantation house symbolizes the materialistic treasure left behind by the last owners. According to the grandmother the plantation house has "...a secret panel..." where "... all the family silver was hidden...when Sherman came through but it was never found...." (O'Connor 433). O'Connor shows the consequences of straying from the path God has chosen for his children by having the grandmother and her family meet The Misfit on their
As the family is being lead into the woods to be killed the grandmother finally realizes what the final outcome will be. In addition O'Connor uses the family to show her concerns over the lack of family values present in her generation. Furthermore symbolism can also be found in the family never reaching the plantation house and meeting The Misfit instead. O'Connor uses the grandmother and her family along with the plantation house as a way of showing the reader how she feels about where society has placed its priorities. As the story progresses The Misfit makes his appearance and the reader begins to see that the grandmother is a "lady" makes little difference to The Misfit. The Misfit is Gods tool to bring the grandmother and her family back to Him. As the grandmother forgives The Misfit she reaches salvation. However, after learning of O'Connor's strong Catholic background the reader comes to the understanding that the story is about her religious concerns rather then presenting a gothic and grotesque story. The grandmother in the story has a false impression of what makes a true Christian. As the story comes to an end the reader begins to see that the real tragedy is not in the death of the family but in the realization of what the family lacks in religion and moral values. O'Connor represents this as evidence that the family lead a sinful life. Without the discipline and direction from parents children will not show respect towards their parents as well as not leading a model Christian life. To the everyday person reading Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find the story may appear to be gothic and even grotesque.
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Acceptance Essays
